Umahi moves to reconcile farmers, herdsmen

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has taken steps to end intermittent clashes between farmers in the state and herdsmen while insisting that no part of the state would be given for the purpose of cattle colony.
 
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State
In order to achieve this, conscious effort would be made to engage traditional rulers and leaders of Miyeti Allah in the area with a view to sustaining the peace among the two groups, according to a statement signed by Emmanuel Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to Umahi.

The statement noted that the governor had stated in his address to traditional rulers, presidents of town unions and other stakeholders gathered at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre, Abakaliki that the state government is committed to the sustenance of peace across the state to boost development.

The governor was quoted as saying, “the traditional rulers are not just custodians of culture and tradition but also part of peace building. They must ensure peace in their localities by first of all identifying the people living in their communities especially the herdsmen. No herdsman is allowed to graze cattle in our lands and in an event of that,  the herdsmen pay the double value of crops damaged and  on repeat of such,  the herdsmen will be forced to leave the community.

“The cows are dear to the herdsmen same way the crops are dear to the our farmers most especially our belief in sanctity of human life which has been wasted on some areas in the country.”

He said Ebonyi State Government has no resources to embark on any ranching or colony being an agrarian state whose main stead is agriculture.

“To ensure security and safety of our people and herdsmen who have lived peacefully with us all these years without problem and to ensure there is no infiltration of killer herdsmen from neighbouring countries, traditional rulers are to collate data on herdsmen operating in their communities across the state for easy identification and maintenance of peace. The data should include herdsmen’s names, location and contact phone numbers of their leaders.”

“Traditional rulers should hold constant meetings with the herdsmen so that they can Identify those from Niger Republic and other areas that foment trouble.”


“Governor Umahi is a member of the Presidential Committee headed by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to reconcile and ensure peace between the farmers and herdsmen across the country and he is doing everything within the ambit of the law to ensure peace in his own state as charity begins at home,” the statement said.

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